Pubdate: Wed, 05 Dec 2007 Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Vancouver Courier Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474 Author: Mike Howell MORE DRUGS, PLEASE Will Mayor Sam Sullivan's drug substitution proposal be in place before the civic election in November 2008? Sullivan says he will ask federal Health Minister Tony Clement that question this week when he visits Ottawa. The mayor's plan, which involves doctors prescribing legal drugs to addicts as substitutes to heroin, cocaine and other drugs, requires approval from Clement and Health Canada. "Because we've chosen not to focus on illegal drugs, it will be much easier to obtain these approvals," Sullivan told the Courier before he left for Ottawa. "I don't control the federal and provincial governments. All I can do is work within their systems." Dubbed CAST, or Chronic Addiction Substitution Treatment, the program would involve five trials and involve 1,800 addicts, 800 of whom are chronic offenders, Sullivan said. Two "letters of intent" for two of the trials have been sent to Health Canada, said the mayor, adding he will discuss with Clement how the anti-drug strategy recently announced by the Conservatives fits with CAST and Insite, the city's supervised injection site. The mayor has told the Courier he won't be lobbying for additional injection sites, saying the Conservatives don't have "an appetite" for more sites. Despite Sullivan's position, Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe is lobbying for at least five injection sites in the provincial capital. MO' MONEY, NO FUNNY The issue of electoral reform surfaced again at the Nov. 29 city and services budget meeting at city hall. The issue arose after Vision Vancouver introduced a motion that called for the city to hire an expert to set campaign spending limits and look at banning corporate and union donations. That didn't happen. According to the city's website, council agreed to ask the ministry of community services for an update on the city's July 12, 2005 request for electoral financing reform measures, including restrictions on campaign contributions and campaign spending. Council's 2005 request also asked that the province look at the issue of tax credits for campaign contributors, full reporting of all contributions--regardless of when contributions are received--and requirements for financial reporting similar to those for federal and provincial parties. Finally, council wants the province to amend the city's Charter so every contribution to a party or individual must be reported as a campaign contribution, even if the money repays debts incurred during a campaign. PROJECTION OBJECTION A large red ribbon was projected on city hall Saturday night to recognize World AIDS Day in Vancouver. But the decision to do it didn't come without controversy. NPA Coun. B.C. Lee introduced a motion late Thursday night in favour of the projection. He noted the city was testing laser technology that will be in use for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Vision Vancouver Coun. Raymond Louie served notice on the motion, noting Lee introduced it as new business two minutes before the meeting was to adjourn. Louie suggested Lee should have introduced the motion earlier. "I can't believe that both Vision Vancouver and COPE would deny us this opportunity to recognize World AIDS Day in this unique and special way," said Lee in a dispatch from the NPA. The controversy brings to mind Louie's request last year to give free parking to veterans for the week leading up to Remembrance Day. At the time, the NPA called notice on Louie's motion, saying it was done at the last minute. As a result, Louie had to wait until this year to introduce his motion again, which eventually was approved by the NPA. But in the latest case, the NPA and its majority on council got what they wanted. And so it goes. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart